Mass ECAN August News
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Happy summer! With the backdrop of the Olympics these past couple of weeks, there is a rare opportunity to come together as a nation, and consider far-off countries and cultures. There have been displays of unity and camaraderie by the athletes and fans that would be wonderful to carry over into other arenas of the global stage. It’s had me thinking about what it means to be a good citizen of the world and I hope it’s had a similar effect on others.
Below you'll see our initial line-up of Mass ECAN Fall events. We heard from you about topics of interest and skills needed to increase your impact and continue to translate that feedback into programming. Hope to see you at these events!
Below is our newsletter that's specifically curated for our community of practice:
Feel free to share this newsletter with a colleague and invite them to join us!
Best,
Melissa Ocana
Climate Adaptation Coordinator, UMass Amherst
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This year’s Field Trip series is exploring adaptation actions and nature-based solutions in response to inland flooding. After each trip, stay for optional lunch/networking time from 12pm-1pm. Hope to see you there!
 Easthampton
Sept. 5 (rain date Sept. 12), 10am-1pm
Join us to explore green infrastructure projects in a residential setting and learn about community engagement and maintenance. Register here.
Devens/Ayer
Sept. 24 (rain date Sept. 30), 10am-1pm
Explore a variety of nature-based solutions projects, including low-impact development techniques, pocket forests, and stream daylighting, across commercial, residential, and recreational sites. Learn how municipalities can incorporate nature-based solutions into all of their planning, development, and climate resilience efforts. Register here.
North Branch Hoosic River
Oct. 21 (rain date Oct. 28), 10am-1pm
Visit the Beaver Mills Dam in North Adams, and the former Briggsville Dam in Clarksburg, to learn about dam removal benefits, including flood mitigation, stream continuity, and fish passage. Explore how watershed-scale partnerships, community engagement, and the prioritization of climate justice are all essential parts in increasing resiliency. Register here.
These are organized by Mass ECAN, the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, and local project partners.
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This Fall, we’re providing a couple skill-building workshops just for Mass ECAN members, thanks to funding from the Barr Foundation.
Join us for a Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Workshop facilitated by the Consensus Building Institute on Sept. 13th from 9:30am-3pm at the CBI office in Cambridge. We will explore the ways that people negotiate to create value and resolve disputes. Negotiation is any communication between people with an intention to influence or persuade, which is often needed as we work towards climate action. This full-day workshop will be a mix of lecture-style and interactive sessions that include role-play, discussion, and skills-building.
Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited. RSVP here.
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Congrats Ambassador Awards Recipients
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We are excited to announce the recipients of the Ambassador Awards Program! They will use their funding to share exemplary climate adaptation practices and lessons learned through engagement mechanisms of their choosing. Stay tuned to hear more about their projects in future newsletters.
Staci Jasin, COGDesign
- Rooted in Nature: Participatory Design Guidebook
Caseylee Bastien, Gillian Davies, Adrienne Lennon, Johnathan Rivera, and team, BSC Group
- Promoting "pocket forests" in urban areas
Beth Suedmeyer and Neil Angus, Devens Enterprise Commission
- Integrating Nature Based Solutions across development projects
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Every month, we highlight someone in our community of practice so you can learn about a variety of adaptation work and "meet" a new colleague!
Jennifer Carlino
Land Use and Environmental Planner
Town of Easton
Bio: In Easton, Jennifer administers and enforces the MA Wetland Protection Act and Regulations and the Town of Easton Wetland Protection Bylaw, along with managing conservation properties with the Agricultural Commission. She has worked in municipal conservation for more than 25 years, previously in Norton, Billerica and Wellesley. Jennifer also serves on the Board of Directors for the MA Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals and Vernal Pool Association. She is an active member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and has contributed to Blue Spotted Salamander research for the past nine years.
Climate Adaptation Project: Currently, Jennifer is coordinating a resiliency project in Easton at the Sam Wright Conservation Area on Bay Rd. This project would remove an unnecessary culvert in Mulberry Brook and restore historic wetland and floodplain, providing greater wildlife mobility and flood storage within the Canoe River Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This project is only possible with the collaboration of multiple conservation partners including, but not limited to Representative Carol Doherty, Marea Gabriel at The Nature Conservancy, Matt Burne at the BSC Group, the MVP Program, and Easton residents.
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- Grant awards - Congrats MVP grant recipients! The Healey-Driscoll Administration just awarded $52 million in climate resilience funding to communities, the most funding ever awarded through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.
- Event - Accelerating Climate Resilience Speaker Series, MAPC. Join Let’s Talk About It: The Role of Communications in Climate Work, to explore the ways we talk, share, and receive information about climate change and how people may react to information in different ways. 12:00 pm on 8/29. Zoom. Register here.
- Job- Climate Program Associate, UMass Amherst, Hybrid. Implement programs and establish collaborations to foster adaptation to climate change. *Come work with me! If you're interested, please apply asap.*
- Job- Associate Clean Energy and Climate Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Boston. Work with municipalities to plan, develop policies and implement programs that will advance local and regional-level clean energy and climate goals. Support community engagement and local climate action planning across communities.
- Job - Community Engagement Coordinator, New England Aquarium, Hybrid. Support the Aquarium's vision for a downtown waterfront that is resilient, inclusive, and accessible. The Coordinator is a self-led individual that shares our passion for equity, climate resilience, capacity sharing, and community building.
- Job - Operations and Finance Manager, Merrimack River Watershed Council, Lawrence. Perform range of tasks including grant and financial management, volunteer coordination, IT support, and human resources. The Manager should have a commitment to ecological restoration and climate resilience in the watershed.
- Program - The Division of Ecological Restoration’s (DER) Regional Restoration Partnerships Program helps non-profit organizations and Regional Planning Agencies increase their capacity to lead and support ecological restoration through financial and technical assistance. The Program is currently supporting three Partnerships across the state. A Request for Response (RFR) will be coming to establish new Partnerships in Fall 2024. If you would like to learn more about the Program, reach out to DER.Partnerships@mass.gov.
- Feedback requested - Help shape nation-leading biodiversity conservation goals for the Commonwealth. Please use the survey to provide written comments to the Dept. of Fish & Game by August 30.
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In case you've been wondering what to read next...
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Breaking heat records: NASA data shows July 22, 2024, was the hottest day globally on record.
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Boston announces new climate resilience office: This new department, the Office of Climate Resilience, will help coordinate efforts to prepare for climate change. They will focus on protecting residents from challenges, such as rising sea levels, inland flooding, and extreme heat.
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New Forest Resource: As climate change continues to impact forests in New England and New York, individual forest stands will respond differently depending on their site characteristics. Browse regional adaptation strategies by forest type in this resource.
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